Thursday, August 30, 2018

This Week's Reads

The Forest Keeper
by Ashley Cassaday (website)


Creature Academy by Kevin Hanna
(Goodreads)
**Using up my borrows for August on Hoopla and came across this graphic novel. I'm not familiar with it or the author but I really like the artwork on the cover. What I've read of the story is kind of not totally clear, so far, but the artwork is what really works for me.












The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton
Forever Girl #1 (Goodreads)
**I've had this one on my tbr for awhile. Books that include a supernatural, witchy element always interest me. This also includes a touch of mystery, upping the interest.














Tuesday, August 28, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 08/27/2018



A Reason to Die by William W Johnstone, J A Johnstone (#2 Perley Gates Western)
Access Restricted by Gregory Scott Katsoulis (#2 Word$)
An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden (#2 Wagers of Sin)
Apex Predator by M T Anderson (#4 Horizon)
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames (#2 The Band)
Blue Water Hues by Vicki Delany (#2 Ashley Grant Mystery)
Burn In Your Blood by Lili St. Germain (#2 California Blood)
Cat Chase the Moon by Shirley Rousseau Murphy (#21 Joe Grey)
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (#1 Cassidy Blake)
Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala (Blessings, Georgia #6)
Dagger's Edge by Lora Leigh (#2 Brute Force)
Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart (#2 A Knit & Nibble Mystery)
Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien (#2 A Noodle Shop Mystery)
Don't Look Back by Dawn Ryder (#6 Unbroken Hero)
Echoes in the Wall by V. C. Andrews (#2 House of Secrets)
Enticed by You by Elle Wright (#2 Wellspring)
Exit Stage Left by Mark Russell (The Snagglepuss Chronicles)
Face Off by Brenda Novak (#3 The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles)
Fit to Be Tied by Debby Mayne (#2 Bucklin Family Reunion)
Goodbye Cruller World by Ginger Bolton (#2 A Deputy Donut Mystery)
Henderson House by Kathi Daley (#30 Zoe Donovan Mysteries)
Little Comfort by Edwin Hill (#1 Hester Thursby)
Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews (#10 Kate Daniels)
Mating Season by Theresa Hissong (#1 Morgan Clan Bears)
Maybe for You by Nicole McLaughlin (#3 Whiskey and Weddings)
Memento Mori by Lexi Blake (#1 Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten)
Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter by Katie MacAlister (#1 Dragon Hunter)
Quintus by Kym Grosso (#9 Immortals of New Orleans)
Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Royally Arranged by Nora Flite (#3 Bad Boy Royals)
Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller (#2 Mask of Shadows)
Samhain Secrets by Jennifer David Hesse (#4 Wiccan Wheel Mysteries)
Seafire by Natalie C. Parker (#1 Seafire)
Second Chance at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer (#3 Two Love Lane)
Second Time Sweeter by Beverly Jenkins (#10 Blessings)
Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon (#5 A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)
Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian (#2 A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
Stygian by Sherrilyn Kenyon (#29 Dark Hunters)
Suffer the Children by Lisa Black (#4 Gardiner and Renner)
Texas Free by Janet Dailey (#5 Tylers of Texas)
The Breakup by Erin McCarthy (#2 Jordan Brothers)
The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne (#7 Victorian Rebel)
The Funhouse by Nicole Thorn (#3 Paperdolls)
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (#2 Girl Meets Duke)
The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes (#3 Diamonds in the Rough)
The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah (#3 Hercule Poirot Mystery)
The Towering Sky by Katharine McGee (#3 The Thousandth Floor)
The Trouble with Truth by Kathy Krevat (#2 A Blue Ridge Library Mystery)
Those Summer Nights by Olivia Miles (#5 Oyster Bay)
Tough Luck Cowboy by A J Pine (#2 Crossroads Ranch)
Under Control by Shannon Stacey (#5 Boston Fire)
When You Can’t Stop by James W. Hall (#2 Harper McDaniel)
Wind River Lawman by Lindsay McKenna (#6 Wind River Valley)

Thursday, August 23, 2018

This Week's Reads

Throne of Shadow
by Shadaan (DeviantArt)


The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler
The Shadow Campaigns #2 (Goodreads)
**I may have shared this one before but I'm actually reading it this time. Must just be in the right mood. From the second I started reading I've fallen right back into the story/world that the author created.













Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Empirium #1 (Goodreads)
**This is one I've seen around but am not sure how much I want to read. I grabbed it off the hoopla app when looking for something to read at son's evening class. The first chapter was interesting but still not sure.













Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by  A.W. Jantha
(Goodreads)
**This is another I'm not sure about. I grabbed it from the library hoping at some point while I had it I would feel like reading it. I'm sure to like the movie part since it seems to follow the movie closely. On the other side I haven't seen much positive about the sequel part.













Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Book Review ~ Being Alpha

Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7)

by Aileen Erin
published by Ink Monster
released: July 17, 2018
genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal,

**Received from Ink Monster via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (Goodreads): For the first time since Tessa met Dastien, life is quiet. The evil witch, Luciana, is six glorious feet under, St. Ailbe's is closed due to human trespassers, and people are finally getting used to the fact that supernaturals exist in the world. It seems like the perfect time for a honeymoon.
After traveling to Dastien's house in Provence, clubbing in Paris, and attending Meredith and Donovan's Full Moon Ceremony in Ireland, Tessa and Dastien head to the Caribbean. Their trip is turning out to be the honeymoon that fantasies are made of-sunset cruises, long walks on the beach, and every romantic cliché you can imagine. Tessa couldn't be happier. Except that Tessa's visions are on the fritz. She hopes that means that nothing is brewing. That everything is quiet because all is well. But Tessa's never been one to assume anything.
When she's magically attacked and nearly dies, Tessa knows she can't ignore the signs anymore. Something huge is going on. As much as she doesn't want to call an end to their six-week honeymoon, it's time to head back to Texas.
Whoever messed with Tessa is in for a rude awakening. Because if there's one thing fighting rogue witches and werewolves has taught her, it's how to be Alpha.

My Thoughts: I have mixed feelings on this one. I really loved the first six books of this series. I'm not sure if the author meant this as a transition book or what but it seemed to be a step back while not having a whole lot of substance.
A lot of this book felt like making already established characters seem lesser so Tessa seemed like more. I'll start with the demons. Someone besides Tessa, since she was one of the last to know, should have been able to figure out where/how the demons were getting through. At the very least Claudia. She has proven to be The witch so far in this series and yet she didn't notice a live circle when she was at the compound trying to cleanse it? I know Tessa was supposed to become this uber witch and coven leader but that didn't happen and she really is nowhere on the witch front at this point. Also, when did the demons get so stupid. In previous books they were smart enough to disguise themselves as children to make the wolves look bad to the humans but in this book they only travel between the compound and the abandoned school? They didn't try to attack the town, mall, school and cause as much chaos as possible? This is what happens when you bring back villians you've already beat.
Next is all the new characters. There were a bunch. I understand they were necessary to create this new thirteen power circle that connects all the supernaturals. I guess, personally, I just needed to know more about them in order for it to make sense. Beings that are as powerful as these don't normally give up anything, especially to a wolf that has only been one for a few months.
Which brings us to Tessa. I really like Tessa. The first five books were about her coming to terms with her new life as a wolf while also dealing with a crazy super witch possessed by a demon. She is still learning things both about herself, her mate, and the supernatural world in general. I have a hard time believing that everyone outside of her small group would just accept her as the leader. There is a difference between having a lot of power (which Tessa does) and being an Alpha (she's not at this time). She can push a lot of power out to get everyone's attention in a chaotic room but a real alpha would get everyone's attention just by walking into a room. Not saying she won't become an alpha but she is still growing into herself.
Overall, as I said, this just was a rehash of fighting a demon they had already beat and adding new characters without any real substance. I would love to get to know more about the added characters just maybe without Tessa being such a main part of the story. Let her grow, learn and become comfortable with herself and her new life.
I'll still give the next book a chance since I've been wanting a book about the Fae. I'm concerned with where the author went with Cossette and now Chris and this forbidden love. It seems to be more of a convenience (fan service) than anything that was already established with these characters.

Rating: 3 - 3.5


Tuesday, August 21, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 08/20/2018



A Fatal Obsession by James Hayman (#6 Mike McCabe)
All Dressed in White by Charis Michaels (#2 The Brides of Belgravia)
Assassin's Run by Ward Larsen (#5 Assassin)
Blood Cure by K. A. Linde (#3 Blood Type)
Bone on Bone by Julia Keller (#7 Bell Elkins)
City of Ink by Elsa Hart (#3 Li Du)
Deputy Defender by Cindi Myers (#3 Eagle Mountain Murder Mystery)
Desolation Mountain by William Kent Krueger (#17 Cork O'Connor)
Fierce Like a Firestorm by Lana Popovic (#2 Hibiscus Daughter)
Finger on the Trigger by Delores Fossen (#2 Lawmen of McCall Canyon)
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett (#1 Foundrs)
Four Relentless Days by Elle James (#4 Mission: Six)
From Here to You by Jamie McGuire (#1 Crash and Burn)
Hold On Tight by Cynthia Eden (#6 Lazarus Rising)
Impostor's Lure by Carla Neggers (#8 Sharpe & Donovan)
In the Dog House by V. M. Burns (#1 Dog Club Mystery)
Losing the Field by Abbi Glines (#4 Field Party)
Montreal by Audrey Carlan (#6 International Guy)
Nightblood by Elly Blake (#3 Frostblood Saga)
Practice Husband by Noelle Adams (#2 Trophy Husbands)
San Francisco by Audrey Carlan (#5 International Guy)
Six Weeks to Catch a Cowboy by Brenda Harlen (#3 Match Made in Haven)
Snowbound with the Best Man by Allie Pleiter (#2 Matrimony Valley)
Swift Vengeance by T Jefferson Parker (#2 Roland Ford)
The Duke of Seduction by Darcy Burke (#10 The Untouchables)
The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal (#3 Lady Astronaut)
The Grizzly Bear's Barista by Kasey Belle (#52 Howls Romance #3 Shifters of Sanctuary)
The Little Maverick Matchmaker by Stella Bagwell (#3 Montana Mavericks: The Lonelyhearts Ranch)
The Winter Vow by Tim Akers (#3 The Hallowed War)
Tossed Into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds (#3 Fluke My Life)
When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath (#2 Sins for All Seasons)

Thursday, August 16, 2018

This Week's Reads

Evil Queen
by Jasinai (DeviantArt)



A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh, Elsie Chapman
Anthology (Goodreads)
**This is a reimagining of folklore and mythology from Asia. I've read the first story from Roshani Chokshi about Maria Makiling and loved it. Cannot wait to read more.













Fairest of All by  Serena Valentino
A Tale of the Wicked Queen (Goodreads)
**I enjoy a good retelling/reimagining of fairy tales. This is from Snow White but the story of the Evil Queen. Why she became so obsessive about her vanity and her jealous rage towards Snow White.









Tuesday, August 14, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 08/13/2018



A Deeper Love by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson (#5 Ghosts of the Shadow Market)
Abandoned by Allison Brennan (#5 Max Revere)
Ali's Thieves by Nicole Marie (#8 Once Upon a Harem)
Arrival by Morgan Rice (#2 Invasion Chronicles)
Bad Faith by Jon Hollins (#3 Dragon Lords)
Be Mine, Sweetheart by Codi Gary (#3 Something Borrowed)
Bear Country by Doreen Cronin (#6 Chicken Squad)
Bishop by Sawyer Bennett (#1 Arizona Vengeance)
Blackout by Dannika Dark (#5 Crossbreed)
Clueless by Nicole Edwards (#5 Pier 70)
Cold Fear by Susan Sleeman (#5 Cold Harbor)
Curse of the Poppy by Emily Organ (#5 Penny Green)
Darksoul by Anna Stephens (#2 Godblind)
Don't Eat Me by Colin Cotterill (#13 Dr. Siri Paiboun)
Feared by Lisa Scottoline (#6 Rosato & DiNunzio)
Grim & Bear It by Amanda M. Lee (# Aisling Grimlock Mystery)
Hunter Hunted by Keri Arthur (#3 Lizzie Grace)
I Thought I Knew You by Meg Buchanan (#4 Prelude Series)
Julia Unbound by Catherine Egan (#3 Julia Vanishes)
Letters From The Dead by Steve Robinson (#7 Jefferson Tayte)
Maverick by Lilly Atlas (#2 Hell's Handlers)
Never Trust a Demon by J. D Brown (#2 A Daughter of Eve)
Noumenon Infinity by Marina J. Lostetter (#2 Noumenon)
Outrageous by Marie Force (#7 Quantum Trilogy)
Richer Than Sin by Meghan March (#1 Sin Trilogy)
Seventh Chapter by Kathi Daley (#7 Writers Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery)
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva by Gemma Halliday, Kelly Rey (#2 Marty Hudson Mysteries)
The Breakers by Marcia Muller (#33 Sharon McCone)
The Prince by Jennifer L Armentrout (#3.5 Wicked Trilogy)
The Warrior Queen by Emily R King (#4 The Hundredth Queen)
The Weight of Silence by Gregg Olsen (#2 Nicole Foster Thriller)
Trick Play by Max Monroe (#3 Mavericks)
Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill (#1 Heirs of Chicagoland)
Wild With You by Layla Hagen (#2 The Connor Family Series)
You Only Love Twice by Bec McMaster (#3 London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy)

Thursday, August 9, 2018

This Week's Reads

Come Along Doctor
by Narya91 (DeviantArt)





Ghosts of India by Mark Morris
Doctor Who #25 (Goodreads)
**Donna was my favorite companion in the series so far. I always liked how she was shown as a love interest and got to be her own person. When looking over the Doctor Who books I had to grab this one with her on the cover.













Rebels and Realms by various authors
A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy Collection (Goodreads)
E.J. Stevens is one of my fav authors and when she sent this out in her email I had to give it a try.
I'm not really familiar with any of the other authors but I always enjoy finding new reads.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 08/06/2018


A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckley (#3 A Writer's Apprentice Mystery)
A Darkness of the Heart by Gail Bowen (#18 Joanne Kilbourn)
As Dust Dances by Samantha Young (#2 Play On)
Beyond the Grave by Judy Clemens (#5 Grim Reaper Mystery)
Catwoman by Sarah J Maas (#4 DC Icons)
Cold Case Cover-Up by Virginia Vaughan (#1 Covert Operatives)
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson (Dance of Thieves #1)
Days of the Dead by Kersten Hamilton
Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette (#8 Key West Food Critic Mystery)
Defending Allye by Susan Stoker (#1 Mountain Mercenaries)
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules by Tony Cliff (#3 Delilah Dirk)
Down With Love by Kate Meader (#1 Laws of Attraction)
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen (#12 Royal Spyness)
Garrison Girl by Rachel Aaron (#1 Attack on Titan)
Highland Betrayal by Alyson McLayne (#3 The Sons of Gregor MacLeod)
In a Time of Treason by David Keck (#2 Tales of Durand)
Kill With Kindness by Ed James (#5 DI Fenchurch)
King of Assassins by R.J. Barker (#3 The Wounded Kingdom)
Make Them Sorry by Sam Hawken (#3 Camaro Espinoza)
More or Less a Countess by Anna Bradley (#2 The Somerset Sisters)
Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch by Serena Valentino (#5 The Villain Series)
Neverwake by Amy Plum (#2 Dreamfall)
One on One by Michael Brandman (#2 Buddy Steel Mystery)
Primrose and the Dreadful Duke by Emily Larkin (#1 Garland Cousins)
Privateer by Margaret Weis, Robert Krammes (#2 Dragon Corsairs)
Racked and Stacked by Lorelei James (#9 Blacktop Cowboys)
Rescue Operation by Lenora Worth (#5 Military K-9 Unit)
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (#3 The Murderbot Diaries)
Royal Crown by Meg Cabot (#5 From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess)
Rush by Samantha Towle (#2 Gods)
Saved by the Cowboy by A J Pine (#3 Crossroads Ranch)
Searching Love by Maryann Jordan (#12 Saints Protection & Investigations)
Serpentine by Laurell K. Hamilton (#26 Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter)
Sleepless in Scotland by May McGoldrick (#3 The Pennington Family)
Something Wicked by K T Davies (#03 The Chronicles of Breed)
Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5)
Subway Series Surprise by David A Kelly (#3 Ballpark Mysteries Super Special)
Tailspin by Sandra Brown
The Butterfly Conspiracy by Vivian Conroy (#1 Merula and Raven Mystery)
The Cowboy's Deadly Mission by Addison Fox (#1 Midnight Pass, Texas)
The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell (Mechanica 0.5)
The Money Shot by Stuart Woods, Parnell Hall (#2 Teddy Fay)
The Prisoner in the Castle by Susan Elia MacNeal (#8 Maggie Hope)
The Revolution by Leopoldo Gout (#3 Genius)
The Vixen by Christi Caldwell (#2 Wicked Wallflowers)
The Wolf's Secret Vegas Bride by Eve Langlais (#36 Howls Romance)
These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch (Stream Raiders #1)
To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake (#8 Wishcraft Mystery)
Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews (#23 Meg Langslow)

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

This Week's Reads

Guardian of the Lower Nile
by The-SixthLeafClover (DeviantArt)


Magic Harvest by Mary Karlik
Fairy Trafficking #1 (GoodReads)
**Received this from Ink Monster and NetGalley. Expected Release: September 2018
***The concept of this one interested me. A half-fairy, Layla, has lived through a dragon attack that killed her mother and step father leaving her with her full blooded little sister and a fairy clan that despises her due to her tainted blood. When her sister is kidnapped and taken to the human world she is the only one that can goes looking for her. There she finds Fairy trafficking, magic harvesting, and murder.









The Memory of Fire by Callie Bates
The Waking Land #2 (Goodreads)
**This is the sequel to The Waking Land. I liked most of that book. It wasn't perfect but it was enough to keep me interested and want to read more. With magic awake and out in a world where magic is illegal there is a lot to deal with.












Doctor Who Paradox Lost by George Mann
Doctor Who #48 (Goodreads)
**I actually grabbed a few Doctor Who books this week but this is the first I'm reading. This is my second favorite combo of Doctor and companions. I've read another by this author featuring this group and really liked it. Hoping for more of the same.